Blade assembly for disconnect switches



Nov. l0, 1953 G. E. HEBERLEIN 2,658,964

BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR DISCONNECT SWITCHES Filed July 26, 1951 l 2,5 201 9;@ ff Y E. v

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l l 1 l l Patented Nov. 10, 1953 SWITCHES Gustave E-.pHeherleini BryniMawn Ra ,a.ssiencr,-,

bymesne-lassignments, to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Qcmnann lhilanelnhia lie-i,A eltllreiiaeeot Applicationjulyjgi 1951, Serial No. 238,613*

Mya present invention relates to disconnecting; switches andi more particularly; it relates@ toithei blade assembly of the,v disconnectA switch cfr'- the:A type shown in patent.` application Serial` Nn. masse.-

This` switch has` an angularlyi rnovalcvle:- con.- tactfarnrrotatablymountedfon a base-for terminali This contact arm includes a blade whichi rotates around itsl longitudinal' axis. into highpressure` engagement"` Withi stationary: contacta To permit this rotation, While maintaining.- a good current? path between the rotatingV` blade and` the angul'arlymovable portion thereon a: current carrying connection; comprisingthread edlv` engaged'ccntact elements is used; rEhis connectionisol'the typeA generally; disclosed in appli;- cation SerialNo. 1'45, 383, the present invention beingt a modification ofj thatu shawnin-y the said application..

The. nrmarv object cf my inventicn; isthe1'efore,v to, provide a.v current cnducting connection between. the rotatable-v blade and" the angularlv movable; member on which it; is mounted.

Another object of' my invention is` the provision of at novel WeajtherproofV efcientjv current carrying ccnnecticn. between the blade., HOIUQH. of the contactarm andthe hinge castigarA o fmthe; disconnect switch.

Another. object. ci myinventionf is the provisionA of snring loaded; contacts at theA connection between, the; allsularly movable hinge, castingandt the rotatable, blade itself so arrangedv thatv the contacts. are always. in engaseinentj, thereby- St-mplvillg; the. provision, df; nreans for excludingvv fcreignLA matter. from. the ccntacts, and thereby nrerentina ccrnisijcrn` A further object of my inventinis the pro;- vision of a garter spring to. maintain the,` ccntact Surfaces,r ci the: hinge casting and of' the suitable bladeL into, high pressure, engagement,

These and mann other objects cf, the` invention wilifbeccme. apparent.. in the following,A de- Scrinticnandzdravvingsinwhich; Y

Figure., 1: is av crcssgsecticnal. vieta ci the, dief, connect switch inccrpcrating f this, niventcn.

nettime (el. aaneen tural:l sunporn in. this casel sncwn licltizcntaiiy ana-need fen hcriacntallyv 0r; upright: @Quilted disccnnectswitcn The; base lrli Secured; theretc; any suit--v ablemanner as. by.: the/insulator; Spacers I2fansi; I3 the stationary upright snpporting; posts, I4; t5: on; the;r linnen pcrticnse cnf which are., mounted insulators-[61| l;

Base III is: also.; r r;0.v.ided-l with;the;bea-r1.ng.;` 210; appropriately secured thereto any.. suitable. mannen as by,I the; bolts Zi@ and;l carrying` the., rctatableV vertical; sha-ift: 2-2 toa the.: upper.r endZ off`r which is keyed ther insulator` 235.' for-rotation with the vertica-lshaftor posta22.

Below:- insulator 23 there iskeyed'to the Sliafi'f;r 22' the crankf 30;. secureds thereto; in any suitable manner as'` byJ the. bolts 3l; connected to the: ange. o rcrank, plate 32:; Bolts:` 21: which secure? the bearing 2l) in position also. secure; the stop;- plate 34 in position, thestopplaterbeing` pro-j vided at: opposite; ends with, the. adjustablestops 36, 3H which engage at either.` end'fvvith the stop 381onthe operatingfcrank 301.

Whilev stops 3ft, 3T.' are. hereinprovided; the constructionl and operation. of my, novelA switch is suchA tha-titl may` operate properly.A without the 2.-` isl. a, cross-eeeticnalvviem ct -thaflainge casting and switch blade of this inventionlshdtv.-Y

ing the; contacting lingers. Y

Figure 3. isa; crees-Sectional, View 0i., mQdie ned veiesicn;` on the conducting' j ci'nt o;,`1igure, il.4V Referrina newV ta Eisure 1 I have, hetashewn Y a.. disconnect cf, the, tynediselcsed in apliita r1 serial No. 145,389, area February 21, 1956 in" 'when the, disconnetswnch amounted cnlthe basel H which is a Suitabl? lcnaitudinai straestops at individual poles; in such case, thel stops would.; be provided at. tlieoperatingV means.. Yfor the-entire-switchl- Where stops are eliminated atf all points, then the switch` mayv be operated by crank `30' to close and then open by a 'single continuous movement in one direction-'to establish a contactrnomntar-ily-and then break it;

Skhanft 22a extends above thev insulator 2@ aseaecnvely af continuation "or "verticaifshaa 2g, being,v however; spacedtherefrom b'gi insulationv ze. cram;` tu" at the upper "en-d "off shareaza is preferably-'integralitherewith and, therefore',A- ro-Y tate'stherewith. f

@rank "4Q eitendsv horizon-tallyl or at least par-V ane'r 'with' the, base spc'rting'snucmye l lV and rotates-in the horizontal`-plane. VCranky 401s any desired cross-s'ec'tion1;` consistentvgithtlie'nie ch'anicali- Vloads irripf's'e'cl'"thereon,A rI-`heA buter en d" of? crankDjis 'flattenevd'at 4I' aridi;` pro-'- vided with" a circular lopening 42 through which pin may pass.. t v i I.

A clevismember 44 receives extension- 4`I, con;- nection being made by pin 42- Clevis 44"'isiintegrail with thethreaded eitnsion 50`Whi`cherters mtb the tapped. opening. 5l'l in. theforked Iink 52-L The th'readedl extension 50 "is so arranged that fas-the threaded 'extension 50i-rotates with;

respect to the forked link 52 and its tapped opening 51, it has lineal' movement with respect thereto.

Forked link 52 has a pair of arms 54 at the ends opposite the tapped opening 51 which are secured to the blade crank 61 of sleeve casting t2 by pin 513e. rhe blade support sleeve casting 52 carries the tubular switch blade 53 secured therein and rotatable therewith. Y

The outer end of the tubular switch blade is `flattened at 64 (Figure l) and is provided with appropriate contacts 155 engageable with the stationary contact jaws $6.

The blade support sleeve casting 62 is mounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis on an extension of the hinge casting 10.

The,` particular joint utilized for this mounting constitutes the essence of the present invention and Willbe discussed in detail below.

The hinge casting 10 is in turn rotatably mounted by the hinge bearings indicated generally at 12 on the forked frame casting 13. The frame casting 13 has a horizontal section 14 secured in any suitable manner as by the bolts 15 to the top of insulator 16.

The sides 15 extend back to the solid portion 11 which is provided with an opening 18 appropriately recessed to form a bearing for crank 40 and its shaft.

The solid portion 11 of the base casting 82 then extends beyond to form the terminal B to which appropriate leads may be connected.

The stationary contact 66 comprises the plurality of contact blades 90, 91 on each side biased toward each other by the spring support members 92, S3 and so arranged that when the blade 65 enters at an angle to the horizontal position during the closing operation it will clear the blades 80. on eachside.

YThese contact members are so arranged, however, that when the blade is rotated from the open to the closed position the blade t in turning to the horizontal position will spread the contacts 9d and 91 on each side against the tension of springs 92 and 93, creating the desired contact pressure.

The spring blades S2, 93 are current conducting and are connected in any suitable manner as by the bolts 98 to the base plate 99,` which in turn is mounted in any suitable manner as by bolts lili! at the top of insulator 11.

The base 0d of stationary contact structure 65 has an extension 101 which serves as a terminal block or connecting member.

Thus, when the disconnect switch is in the closed position of Figure l, current enters the terminal 80, passes through the frame casting 13 to the hinge bearing 12, then through the current carrying connection in the hinge bearing 12 to the hinge casting 10; from the hinge casting to the contact blade 53,-then throughthe contact 15.5 on the contact blade 63 to the sta- 4 casting 10 by the rotatable interengagement of nut 255 of blade 63 with threaded part 206 of extension 205 of the hinge casting 10.

The interior of sleeve 62 is provided with an annular recess 201 at the point of engagement of the sleeve 62 with extension 200 of the hinge casting 10 to receive a weather-proong gasket 201.

Adjacent the inner end of extension 205 a highly conductive cylindrical contact section 210 is mounted on appropriate material and secured to the cylindrical extension 205.

A plurality of contact ngers 216 are secured on a suitable Way, for instance by brazing, to one end section of the blade tube 53. The contact side 213 of each of the contact ngers 215 is provided with a contact button 2111 engaging the cylindrical contact 210. Where necessary for adequate contact pressure, a greater spring 215 is placed in a suitable annular recess 212 of the tube E2 so that it surrounds the contact lingers 215 at their ends 213 driving the contact buttons 214 into close continuously engaged current carrying engagement with the annular contact ring 2i0 of the hinge casting 10.

It is thus seen that the contact blade 83 may readily rotate around its longitudinal axis while an eiilcient continuously engaged current carry-- ing engagement exists between contact blade 53 and the casting 10.

Thus, the current flows from stationary contact 6E through the movable contact S5, the contact blade 133, the contact hinges 215, contact buttons 214, the contact ring 210, to the casting 10 and then through the hinge contacts 12 to the base member 13 to the opposite terminal Si).

The necessity for exible or extension connection is obviated. All current carrying connections are completely housed, sealed and Weatherproofed. The Weatherproong for this conducting joint comprises the solid sleeve 62, the Weatherproong gasket 201 in annular recess 261 and the method of securement of the blade E3 to the'sleeve 62.

To secure the blade 53 to the sleeve 62 a sultable method is used, for instance, that shown in the above-mentioned patent application Serial No. 145,389.

A modification of this conducting joint is shown in Figure 3. The blade section 53 is a hollow metallic member extended back inside sleeve E2 which carries the blade crank S1. Sleeve 52 is rotatably mounted on the substantially cylindrical extension 305 of the hinge casting 10 by the rotatable interengagement of nut 355 of blade 53 with threaded. part 3135 of extension 305 o the hinge casting 10.

The extension of sleeve G2 is provided with an annular recess 301 at the point of engagetionary contact elements 90, S I and then through A ment ofthe sleeveV S2 with extension 300 of the hinge casting 'it to receive a weatherprooflng 301.v

Two highly conductive cylindrical contact sections 310 and S11 are mounted on appropriate material and secured to the cylindrical extension 305, one adjacent the inner end of extension 305 and the other adjacent the threaded part 30B oi extension 305. j Two sets of contact ngers 316 and 311 are secured ina Asuitable way, for instance, by brazing on the end of blade 63, one set'316 to `make electrical contact with contact ring 3i!! and the other 311 to make electrical contact with contact ring 311,-. 1 I

The contact` side 312 of veach of vthe contact fingers 316 and the contact side 313 of each of the contact fingers 3H are made of a highly conductive metal mounted in a suitable Way on each finger of set 316 and 3H.

Where necessary for adequate contact pressure, a garter spring 3| 4 is placed in a suitable annular recess 3| 8 of sleeve 82 so that it surrounds the contact fingers 3 l 6 at their ends 3l2 driving these highly conductive ends 3l2 into close continuously engaged current carrying engagement with the annular contact ring 3l0 of the hinge casting 10.

In this modification the addition of another set of lingers 3|1 and garter spring 320 makes the conducting joint a much more eiiicient current carrying connection.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with specific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modiiications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A switch having a movable contact arm and a frame; said contact arm comprising an angularly movable hinge member mounted on said frame and a blade member mounted on said hinge member for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a current carrying connection between said blade and said hinge member; said current carrying connection comprising a plurality of contact fingers secured to said blade and extending substantially parallel to the axis thereof; and a contact ring on said hinge member in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the blade; the contact fingers engaging said ring; said contact lingers being biased toward said contact ring on said hinge member; means sealing said current carrying connection.

2. A switch having a movable contact arm and a frame; said contact arm comprising an angularly movable hinge member mounted on said frame and a blade member mountedY on said hinge member for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a current carrying connection between said blade and said hinge member; said current carrying connection comprising two pluralities of contact fingers secured to said blade and extending substantially parallel to the axis thereof; and two contact rings on said hinge members in planes substantially normal to the axis of the blade; each plurality of said contact iingers engaging one of said contact rings to permit rotational movement of said blade withrespect to said hinge while maintaining permanent contact engagement; said contact fingers being of a current carrying resilient material; said blade comprising a rigid tubular member; 'means biasing said pluralities of contact lingers toward said contact rings on said hinge member.

3. A switch having a movable contact arm and a frame; said contact arm comprising an angularly movable hinge member mounted on said frame and a blade member mounted on said hinge member for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a current carrying connection between said blade and said hinge member; said current carrying connection comprising two pluralities of contact fingers secured to said blade and extending substantially parallel to the axis thereof; and two contact rings on said hinge members in planes substantially normal to the axis of the blade; each plurality of said contact fingers engaging one of said contact rings; said contact fingers being of a current carrying resilient material; said blade comprising a rigid tubular member; means biasingfsaid pluralities of contact lingers toward said contact rings on said hinge member; means sealing said current carrying connections.

4. A switch having a movable contact arm and a frame; said contact arm comprising an angularly movable hinge member mounted on said frame and a blade member mounted on said hinge member for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a current carrying connection Vbetween said blade and said hinge member; said current carrying connection comprising two pluralities of contact fingers secured to said blade and extending substantially parallel to the axis thereof; and multiple contact rings on said hinge members in planes substantially normal to the axis of the blade; each plurality of said contact fingers engaging one of said contact rings; said contact lingers being of a current `carrying resilient material; said blade comprising a rigid tubular member; means biasing said pluralities of contact fingers toward said contact rings on said hinge member; means sealing said current carrying connections.

5. A disconnect switch having a movable contact arm and a frame, said movable contact arm having rotational movement about its longitudinal axis and annular movement, said movable contact arm comprising a blade member and a hinge member, said hinge member positioned within said blade member, a 'current carrying connection between said blade and said hinge member, said current carrying connection comprising a pluralityy of resilient contact fingers permanently secured to said blade and extending substantially parallel to the axis thereof; a contact ring Vconcentric with said hinge member and K permanently secured thereto, said resilient contact :lingers engaging said contact ring to permit rotation of said blade with respect to said hinge member, and a weather prooiing gasket at said vhinge to exclude foreign matter from the contacts and thereby prevent corrosion.

GUSTAVE E. HEBERLEIN.

References Cited in the le of this patent` UNiTED STATES PATENTS -Graybll et al. Feb. 17, 1948 

